DIY Embroidered Map: The Most Thoughtful GiftEver

This might be one ofmy favorite DIY giftsof all time. It’s intensely personal, it’s relatively easy, very inexpensive, and it means so much to the recipient. It’s a perfect gift for someone who is moving away, for someone who lives far from you, for someone who shared a special vacation destination with you, and so many others. It would make a lovely gift this holiday season for any number of people who live far from you. Let’s do this.

DIY Embroidered Map View in gallery

DIY Embroidered Map Tutorial View in gallery

DIY Level:Beginner to Intermediate (requires care to sew trail without damaging map)

DIY绣花地图——材料 View in gallery

Materials Needed:

  • Map, sized to fit a frame (example uses a state highway map printed onto regular office paper)
  • Lightweight fusible interfacing
  • Embroidery floss in the color of your choice
  • Sharp needle
  • Iron
  • Frame for map (not shown)

Begin by cutting a piece View in gallery

Begin by cutting a piece of fusible interfacing that’s slightly smaller (1/2” smaller on all sides) than your map.

Determine which side of the interfacing View in gallery

Determine which side of the interfacing has the textured bumps. These are the fusible bits to attach the interfacing to the paper.

Lay your map right side down onto your ironing board View in gallery

Lay your map right side down onto your ironing board. (Try not to drool with envy at this ironing board cover. It’s a lovely specimen, I know.)

interfacing fusible side down View in gallery

Center your interfacing fusible side down onto the back of your map.

steam iron to fuse the interfacing to the map View in gallery

Use a steam iron to fuse the interfacing to the map.

Take care not heat your interfacing for too long View in gallery

Take care not heat your interfacing for too long, but rather just enough to fuse the two pieces together.

prepare your embroidery floss View in gallery

Set your map aside for a minute and prepare your embroidery floss. As a rough estimate, you’ll need floss that’s about eight times the length ofembroidered trailon your map. The floss will be doubled over, so your doubled-up length will be about four times the trail length.

Tie a knot at the end of your floss View in gallery

Tie a knot at the end of your floss. Make it as flat as possible. Keep in mind that a small knot here is fine; the map is going in a frame and won’t be moved when done, so it’s not like you need a heavy duty knot here.

Make a small diagonal stitch View in gallery

Make a small diagonal stitch at either the starting or ending point of your trail; this will be part of a heart. If the location is labeled on your map, try to keep the name visible.

Make another small diagonal stitch View in gallery

Make another small diagonal stitch, leaning the other way and connecting at the bottom point, to create the middle part of your heart. Aww. I really loved this project at this point.

simply stitch two diagonal stitches View in gallery

Now, you’ll want to beef up your heart so that it stands out a little more from the trail. To do this, simply stitch two diagonal stitches directly outside the first two. Basically, you’re doubling up the heart width.

the heart complete View in gallery

With the heart complete, it’s time to begin stitching your trail. We’ll be using a gently modified backstitch here. A true backstitch creates a fully solid line; the trail we’re stitching here does have slight gaps, but they are nominal. To sew a backstitch, you want to bring your needle up through the map at the forward point of your stitch.

Pull the needle and floss all the way up View in gallery

Pull the needle and floss all the way up through your stitch, then push the needle back down through the map at what will become the back point (like the “caboose”) of your stitch.

DIY绣花图飞路粉 View in gallery

The process looks something like this. I found it helpful to hold the map up to a light so as to find the point where I wanted to push the needle through; once you create the needle hole in paper, it’s there to stay (unlike sewing in fabric, where you have a bit of weave forgiveness in the fabric). So you want to get the needle poke right the first time. Also, work with controlled bursts of pressure when you’re first poking through the map and then one more time when you’re bringing the eye with floss through the map. If you’re too gentle and slow at these two critical stitch points, you run the risk of ripping, creasing, or damaging your map.

DIY Embroidered Map - refresh you on the backstitch View in gallery

So, just to refresh you on the backstitch: you’re moving forward in your trail (yellow line), but your individual stitches (green arrows) are sewn backwards, in the opposite direction.

DIY Embroidered Map - back side of your map View in gallery

Here’s what the back side of your map will look like. Each part of the trail is covered with two halves of floss stitches.

DIY Embroidered Map -find yourself partway through your map View in gallery

If you find yourself partway through your map without enough floss to finish it, don’t worry. You can simply tie off a flat knot, then re-thread your needle, double it up, tie off the end, and start up with your backstitch pattern wherever you left off.

DIY Embroidered Map Cut View in gallery

At the end of your trail, you’ll stitch a heart in exactly the same way as you began your trail. Then tie off a knot at the back of your map and trim the floss.

the map paper down to the correct size View in gallery

Cut the map paper down to the correct size for your frame (if you haven’t done this already).

Place the map of your heart in the frame. View in gallery

Place the map of your heart in the frame.

map that connects two separated hearts View in gallery

Viola! Done. A map that connects two separated hearts, memories, experiences, whatever.

DIY Embroidered Framed Map View in gallery

I love how this gift idea is all about connection on a very personal level.

DIY Embroidered Map Gift View in gallery

It’s interesting that the best gifts really don’t have to cost a lot. This particular one is so simple, takes a relatively short amount of time, and yet is priceless.

DIY Embroidered Map Customized Gift View in gallery

你可以定制the color of floss that you use to stitch your trail. Consider using metallic gold floss or whatever color matches the recipient’s space.

DIY Embroidered Map Decor View in gallery

One aspect that’s so sweet about this gift is that the trail of love flows both directions. Like, both ends are sending and receiving love.

White Embroidered Map View in gallery

I find that two-directional flow aspect comforting, especially for people physically separated from loved ones,especiallyat this time of year.

DIY Embroidered Map Christmas Gift View in gallery

I hope youenjoy this DIY projectto your core. Happy gift-giving.

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